5 Things Most People Don’t Consider When Starting Their First Business

Published on: 12 December 2018 Last Updated on: 14 December 2021

Today, more people than ever are starting their own first business, but not all of them are successful. In fact, only one in ten startups will survive their first year of trading and go on to turn over a profit. If you’re thinking of starting your own company, it’s important to be prepared for all the obstacles and potential setbacks that you are likely going to face. If you want to make sure that your business is the one in ten that succeeds, it’s vital to be ready for the challenge. For many new business owners, overlooking some important aspects of starting a new company can quickly become their downfall. In order to help you avoid future issues, we’ve put together a handy list of common things people don’t consider when starting their own business.

1. Insurance To Look forward while Starting First business:

Starting your first business can be challenging if you do not have enough capital backup. You might assume that liability insurance is unimportant if your business doesn’t deal directly with members of the public. For example, if you’re planning to sell items online, you might not think that insurance is necessary since your customers won’t be visiting your shop in person. However, insurance may be needed depending on the type of products that you are selling, as it will help ensure that you are covered if anything goes wrong. No matter what you’re selling, general liability insurance is essential to protect your company from claims of bodily injury, associated medical costs, or damage to property.

2. SWOT Analysis and Business Plan:

You’re probably ready to get started with your business as quickly as possible but failing to put in the right amount of preparation and planning now can cause many issues for you down the line. Take the time to sit down and come up with a business plan that will help you make sure you are on the right track in the future. To be fully confident in your new venture, it’s essential to know that your business is going to work. Completing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis will help you position yourself strongly in the market and enable you to plan for the future.

3. Legal Considerations:

Before you begin trading, it’s important to make sure that you’re aware of all the legal implications and potential hurdles you could face as a business owner. As an entrepreneur, no matter what kind of business you’re thinking of starting, your line of work is likely going to be governed by a wide range of rules, regulations, and laws that you will need to adhere to. Whether it’s licensing for operation or professional standards that you must meet, you’ll need to be fully prepared for the legal implications of business ownership. It may be worth consulting with a business lawyer before you begin; they will be able to advise you on the best steps to take.

4. Establishing a Reputation:

Before you make the leap into starting your own business, it’s a wise idea to set yourself up for success by establishing a reputation for yourself and your brand in the industry. Networking is key to building a strong foundation for yourself and your business, making it easier for you to get your brand off the ground. Connect with industry experts, like-minded entrepreneurs, and potential leads both in-person and online. Use social media platforms such as LinkedIn to get in touch with people who could potentially help you build and expand your network, and don’t be afraid to get out there at trade shows, networking conferences, and other relevant business events.

5. Keep on Top of Admin:

Starting as you mean to go on is definitely one of the most important factors when it comes to business admin. Tasks such as bookkeeping, payroll, and inventory management can quickly become unmanageable if you don’t make sure to keep on top of them from the beginning. If possible, you may want to consider outsourcing these tasks – today you can find freelancers or entire companies that you can outsource the work to. This makes it much easier for you to manage since you can rest assured that the work is being handled by professionals with the know-how and experience necessary to support your business success. If outsourcing isn’t possible, there are many alternatives to consider. When it comes to accounting, you can find many free or inexpensive online tools to make the process much easier for you to manage. Take some time to research different software programs that you can use to make managing the admin side of your company easier from the start.

When it comes to starting your own first business, it’s important to make sure that you are fully prepared to propel your new brand to success. These are some of the main factors that people don’t think about when starting a new business; don’t fall into the same trap.

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How a Virtual Assistant Is Beneficial to Businesses

Are you trying to scale your business, but don’t have the proper help? Or on the flip side, are you scaling too quickly without the proper infrastructure in place? Adding a virtual assistant to your team can be a better answer to your scaling issues by taking administrative tasks off your plate, saving on operational costs, and much more. Let’s take a deeper look at how virtual assistants are beneficial to businesses. Remove Yourself From Admin Tasks While administrative tasks are crucial and inevitable in your business, they can also easily be taken over by a qualified virtual assistant. As a business owner or department manager, your time should be spent on the most important aspects of the business. Allowing a VA to take over mundane, repetitive tasks will let you focus on scaling your business, building up your marketing efforts, improving processes, and maintaining quality output. Virtual assistants can take over tasks like scheduling meetings, data entry, bookkeeping, customer service, and monitoring your email inbox. Save on Operational Costs Hiring a virtual assistant means you won’t have to worry about providing equipment or finding available office space for them, which saves on your operational costs. VAs also only get paid when they are working on an assigned task, which means you can hire one on a part-time basis or a few times a week — whichever you think is necessary for your business. Hiring a virtual assistant will also save you money because you won’t have to pay an employee a full-time salary, which includes all the benefits that come with that position, like additional taxes, PTO, benefits, and severance pay. Increased Scalability Adding a virtual assistant to your team of experts allows you to scale your operations with fewer potential risks. Rather than hiring full-time employees, you can hire virtual assistants to test out the processes you built out after removing yourself from the day-to-day tasks. Having a new set of eyes on your operations and processes will help you refine them and note where issues occur. While you might think you have things running smoothly, a virtual assistant can help spot inefficiencies. By using a virtual assistant to increase scalability, you can manage your volume of output based on demand. Then, the money you save on hiring employees can be reinvested into your business. Adding Skilled Professionals Adding a virtual assistant to your staff also means you can choose to hire someone with a unique specialization that your company lacks. For instance, virtual assistants commonly have specialized skills in the areas of customer service, tech, lead generation, marketing, and administration. You have the freedom to hire someone based on the skills you want in your assistant. Hiring someone who is specialized in the right field allows you to rest easy knowing that whatever task you give them will be handled without error — or at least, very limited errors. You can also teach your virtual assistant the skills they need to accomplish their task, as they are usually fast learners who are used to jumping right into an organization. How To Train A Virtual Assistant Better! Since you won’t be able to train them on location (because most of them will be working remotely) Training a virtual assistant (VA) can be tricky, especially since they’re not right there in your office. But with the right approach, you can still get them up to speed and make sure they’re on point with what your business needs. Here’s how you can do it: Set Clear Expectations First, it’s important to communicate what you want clearly. Ensure that you outline the tasks you need your VA to handle, the standards you expect, and any specific workflows they should follow. Start with giving them a detailed job description and a list of tools or software they’ll need to use. This way, they’ll have a better understanding of their role, and it reduces the chances of things getting lost in translation. Provide Comprehensive Training Resources To make sure your VA can handle their responsibilities, you should offer them some solid training resources. This could be things like video tutorials, written guides, or maybe even access to online courses that are relevant to what they’ll be doing. Screen recording software can be super helpful here. For starters, it lets you create step-by-step guides that show them exactly how your processes work. Trust me, this visual approach is a lifesaver, especially for more complicated stuff. Use Project Management Tools The pandemic did give us a plethora of project management tools. So, why not take advantage of these tools, to organize the tasks better. Project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com are great for keeping track of what your VA is up to. They let you assign tasks, set deadlines, and check in on progress to make sure everything’s moving along as it should. Plus, they give you a place to communicate, where you can leave feedback or ask for updates whenever you need them. Regular Check-Ins Having regular check-ins with your VA is key to keeping everything running smoothly. Set up weekly or bi-weekly meetings to go over what they’ve done, talk through any issues, and give feedback. These meetings also give you a chance to tweak their workload or responsibilities if needed. Hire Your Virtual Assistant Today Ultimately, hiring a virtual assistant will make your life easier while growing your business. You can bring on new talent to save on operating costs, increase your team’s knowledge base and skillset, and remove yourself from mundane day-to-day tasks. Hiring a virtual assistant will allow you to focus on improving your process so you can quickly scale your business. Read Also: Alexa Voice Assistant: Why It Succeeds Where Others Fall Balancing the Books with Outsourcing – Virtual Receptionists

5 Best Types of Paper to Use for Business Cards

Business cards are an excellent way for entrepreneurs to introduce their enterprises and providing their contact information as well. Business cards are often the first impression that a potential customer will get about a business. It should, therefore, convey a sense of professionalism and quality and pay attention to details as well. The quality of a business card starts with the paper stock that a business owner chooses to use for the card. These are top five paper stocks that businesses often use for making their business cards. Different Types Of Paper You Must Use For Your Business Cards 1. Matte Stock: These paper stocks are often used for cards with smooth, non-shiny finishes. Though commonly found in tans, beiges, creams, and white, matte stocks are available in a variety of colors to meet the needs of every business. However, those using matte stock color tones should be aware that their lettering may be less crisp than those printed on business cards with a neutral tone. Matte stock cards are always clean and grant the holder the ability to write on the card in case their telephone number or name needs to be added or changed. Sometimes people refer matte stocks as dull stocks depending on the printing company and manufacturer. Matte paper prints are bright enough and give a neat finish to a business card. When you are selecting any business card printing online first ask for the samples. Then finalize your decision. 2. Card Stock: Card stock is the correct term that people often use when referring to different types of papers used for making business cards. However, some printing companies and manufacturers call their paper prints cover stock. The weight of a card stock ranges between 80 to 110 pounds, but this depends on its intended purpose and the target audience. These cards are sturdy enough and designed to withstand excessing handling, which is crucial for a name or business card. A lower paperweight creates flimsier cards while higher paperweights are used for making more rigid business cards. A heavyweight paper card cost more than a lighter weight card stock. Due to their heavyweight, business cards made with stiff card stocks can last longer than those made with lightweight paper prints. The type of card stock ranging from textured to photo, glossy, and matte also determines how durable and useful a business card will be. Business cards are made with specific kind of papers to make the cards formal and professional. Card stocks are among the best and most frequently used paper prints for printing business cards. These characteristics make card stock the perfect business and name cards printing paper. 3. Photo Cards: Companies use photo card stocks when they want their business cards to have a photo quality finish. These card stocks are often used by actors, real estate agents, and models. These paper prints are the equivalent of photographs and are available in a range of versatility for enterprises interested in a more sophisticated impression. You can use photo card stocks for both double-sided and single-sided name and business cards in full color. 4. Glossy Stocks: Glossy stocks are a popular choice in making name and business cards. These paper prints are the best for double-sided printing and bright colors and come with an aqueous coating that aids in creating a shiny finish. Glossy stocks are available in a broad spectrum of colors to offer business owners more options for their business cards. Companies using glossy stocks for printing their business cards can incorporate multiple images with almost the same photographic quality or place a photo in the background. The longevity of the card is one of the advantages of using glossy stocks for your business cards. Due to their aqueous coating, business cards made with glossy stocks can withstand tearing and water damage. The only disadvantage of using glossy stocks for professional business cards is the inability to write on the card in case the contact information gets altered. However, it is an ideal paper print that any company can use for making its business cards. Its aqueous coating is suitable for double-sided printing, and companies can use the card for dazzling colors and creating a glittering finish. Glossy cards are available in a variety of colors to give the cardholder limitless color options. It is the best choice for any business interested in printing a photo on their name or business card. It also works well for any company seeking just a glossy card or a card with a shiny logo and finish. 5. Textured Card Stocks: These card stocks come in either glossy or matte stocks form. However, these card stocks have a pattern pressed into their surface to create a feel such as dots, basket-weave, and hounds-tooth. These card stocks are available in a broad spectrum of colors, and their users are companies and organizations seeking a physical dimension to their name or business cards. These card stocks are the perfect option for single-sided business cards. The advantages of textured matte stocks are almost similar to those of standard matte stocks except that they allow business owners to print both sides of their business cards. A double-sided business card can sometimes leave a potential client confused, especially if the details aren’t clear enough. Textured stock cards are a perfect option for a business seeking to make its cards unique and stand out from the rest. Textured stock cards appeal to the touch, and when a business owner hands them over to a client, they can be sure of repeat purchases. Always remember that you are choosing what sort of impact your brand has on the environment and not what clients feel or see about it when choosing a business card paper. That’s why business card printers including JoinPrint AU are using recycled papers to create eco-friendly business cards. You are sending a message to your clients when you decide to hand over business cards to both your existing and potential clients. Of course, every business owner would want to use their business cards to express how concerned they are about things such as preserving the environment, and that’s why everyone is going for cards made with recycled papers.

3 Reasons Why Businesses Find Application Fraud So Devastating

There are all kinds of businesses for which individuals have to fill out applications. You might have a banking app, for instance, and someone wants to fill out an application so they can purchase a CD or open a new checking account. You might have a website set up with a paywall, and some individual is trying to apply for membership. There are many more business models where people try to fill out applications to become members, purchase things, get in line to buy new products coming out, and more. If they can fill out an application with no issues, it benefits them since they can get what they want, and it helps the business since it can generate revenue. However, application fraud does exist, and it can harm a business entity significantly. In this article, we’ll explain what application fraud is, and we’ll go over some reasons it can devastate a business if that company can’t figure out a way to identify and block it. What Exactly is Application Fraud, and Why Does It Happen? There are all kinds of ways to block application fraud, such as AI machine-learning fraud protection. Before we talk about any of that, though, you should understand exactly what we mean when we use the term “application fraud.” Application fraud occurs when a malicious individual or entity tries to sign up for a new account. They might do so on a website or through an app. They will usually use stolen or synthetic identities to do so. They might sign up for a single fraudulent account, or they might create and run programs that try to activate hundreds or even thousands of new accounts at the same time. But why would anyone do that? Profit is one reason. Someone might sign up for thousands of fraudulent accounts and then use the dark web to sell those activated accounts for a much lower price than the business would charge. Mischief is another reason. Someone might try to activate all of those new accounts because they like destroying a company and tearing down what the business has tried to build. Some hackers are essentially anarchists, and they try to demolish legitimate businesses for no other reason than because they can. Now, let’s examine three potential application fraud impacts. A Company Can Lose Money When This Happens: Let’s say that a hacker creates a program that tries to open thousands of new accounts at one time. The accounts they create give those who utilize them access to exclusive website content behind a paywall. If the hacker is successful and sells those active accounts to dark web users, they will start using those accounts. The website, or site network, can potentially lose thousands of dollars or more. If they cannot generate revenue through legitimate, active accounts, then they may have to shut down eventually. Their Site Can Crash: A hacker might also create a program to try to open up lots of fraudulent accounts at the same time, and the website has safeguards in place that can identify and nullify the attack. However, the program might be so pernicious that it overwhelms the website’s defenses. The hacker might not be able to get all of the active accounts that they wanted, but the company’s site can crash. When that happens, it might take their IT department several days to get it up and running again. They Might Have to Pay for Tons of Overtime Hours: In the scenario we just described, the company might have to pay their IT staff lots of money for the overtime hours they are putting in to get the website running once more. They might not even have a regular IT department, in which case, they will likely have to reach out to web developers or IT specialists via Upwork or some other freelancer platform. This will ultimately cost the company money, and though they might have blocked the hacker’s attempt at stealing accounts, that hacker will have the last laugh. The company must still expend both cash and resources trying to bring their site back online. Application fraud can be problematic, but entities do exist that can help companies that are dealing with it. For instance, you can reach out to an entity that has AI-enabled software that can detect these attacks as they happen. They use advanced algorithms to zero in on the attack and stop it before it can go into effect. The Role of AI in Detecting and Preventing Application Fraud Application fraud is a problem that every business faces, regardless of size. Whether it’s a person using fake or stolen information to open an account or a hacker trying to create thousands of fraudulent accounts at once, the impact can be significant. And Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping businesses more effectively detect and prevent application fraud than ever before. But what is AI? And how does it stop fraud? How AI Helps Prevent Application Fraud Fraudsters often try to trick systems by creating fake accounts, using stolen identities, or running automated programs that generate multiple applications at once. Traditional methods of fraud detection, like setting up rules that flag suspicious behavior (e.g., if someone opens multiple accounts in a short period), can catch some fraud, but they often fall short. Fraudsters are always coming up with new tricks to bypass these rules. AI, on the other hand, also analyses but not according to strict pre-determined rules. It analyses real-time patterns and can catch even the tiniest of hastily hidden needles that may escape older systems. Here are some ways how AI can stop application fraud: Real-Time Detection As applications come in, AI analyses them and looks for mismatched personal details. This could be within themselves or from other sources. For example, strange relationships between entities, strange activity, or use of synthetic identities (fake identities created based on stolen/made-up information). Since AI can analyze fast enough, it flags these suspicions in real-time and helps companies shut down a fraudster before they have a chance to attempt fraud. Recognizing Patterns of Fraudulent Behavior AI learns from past incidents of fraud. For example, if fraudsters often use certain email domains or apply for accounts at specific times of the day, AI can pick up on these trends and flag them in the future. The more data AI systems are exposed to, the better they become at spotting fraudulent behavior, even if the fraudsters change their tactics. Blocking Automated Fraud Attempts Some fraudsters use bots (automated programs) to create thousands of fake applications in a short time. AI can easily spot when an abnormal number of applications are coming in from a single source. Or, when bots are generating these applications based on behavior patterns that differ from human activity. Once it’s been determined that fraud is occurring, AI can block these attempts so that you don’t have to deal with this type of fraud further down in your process. Improving Over Time AI’s biggest advantage is its ability to learn and improve. The more it is exposed to fraud, the more it understands new types of fraud. Traditional methods require manual updates and are often redundant when confronted with evolving fraud. Read Also: Why Do Businesses Need Lawyer’s Advice? Why Your Business Needs Call Center Tracking Major financial problems that can affect a new business Why OKRs Help Businesses Grow and Improv

5 Things Most People Don’t Consider When Starting Their First Business

1. Insurance To Look forward while Starting First business:

2. SWOT Analysis and Business Plan:

3. Legal Considerations:

4. Establishing a Reputation:

5. Keep on Top of Admin:

A Well-Oiled Trade Show Machine: The Ones Running the Show

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Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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How a Virtual Assistant Is Beneficial to Businesses

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3 Reasons Why Businesses Find Application Fraud So Devastating

5 Things Most People Don’t Consider When Starting Their First Business

1. Insurance To Look forward while Starting First business:

2. SWOT Analysis and Business Plan:

3. Legal Considerations:

4. Establishing a Reputation:

5. Keep on Top of Admin:

Share this Article

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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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